Leading a Life of Holiness

STOP SINNING! Jesus tells is in Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" Another version says, "But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." Still another version tells us, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." How about this version? "You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." The Amplified Bible puts it like this: "You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect." What is the point of all of this? Well, no matter which version you read this verse in, the message is still the same. In fact, I love how "The Message" puts it. "In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."
We are commanded to be perfect. It is as simple as that. We are also called to live holy. 1 Peter 1:16 tells is "Be holy, for I am holy." This is not a new standard. Peter quotes this from Leviticus 11:44,45; 19:2; and 20:7. He is just reminding us that we are still called to live holy. Holy means set apart. Different from the world. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
"You know, I'm only human." That is the biggest cop-out in the history of the church. Let me tell you this: You are not only human. You are the temple of the almighty God, and His Kingdom, and neither God nor His Kingdom can stand sin. Who else was human? Ananias and Sapphira. They were "only human." But they were struck dead on the spot because of one sin. God exacted his penalty right then and there. What was their deadly sin? Lying. It's not like they murdered or raped someone, or stole anything. All they did was lie. But in God's eyes, sin is sin. It is not a joke, nor is it something to be taken lightly.
Jesus gave us an example for something to strive for. He lived an entire life without sin. Here is another huge cop-out: "But Jesus was God." Jesus may have been God, but he was also 100% man. Jesus had every opportunity to sin. So do we. Jesus did not sin. We do. But, he gave us an example: it is possible to be sinless. No, we cannot do it in our own power. Yes, we do desperately need God's help. But would Jesus give us a command that we couldn't follow? NO! And he commanded us to be perfect, and holy. They're like the commands to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength," "Love your neighbor as yourself," and "Go and make disciples." They are all attainable, and more than that, God expects us to follow them.
You are human. You more than likely are going to screw up and sin. That does not mean you use your humanness as an excuse to sin. If you sin, you repent, apologize to whomever you may have sinned against, and go and sin no more. Quit making excuses. Love Jesus.